Moving to San Antonio......advice on hospitals

U.S.A. Texas

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Hello all,

I am going to be relocating to the San Antonio area and have found there is a large number of health systems and hospitals. I find this somewhat overwhelming and was hoping to gain some insight or feedback anyone may have. I have my RN, BSN with 2 1/2 years of step-down experience and a few months of MICU experience. I am hoping to apply to an ICU or ER, if anyone has an opinion on either of those areas as well. I thank you very much in advance!

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We have 3 large hospital systems in San Antonio. Baptist, Methodist, and Christus Santa Rosa. If you want to work ER with the "Big Boys" then University Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center. Then there is the VA Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston, and Wilford Hall at Lackland Air Force Base.:yeah:. There are also several smaller hospitals TexSan Heart Hospital, Nix Medical Center and others.:twocents:

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Do you have any further opinions on pay, staffing or the facilities themselves? Thank you for you input, it is much appreciated! :)

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Sorry, but I don't have any info. I'm presently enrolled at the Baptist School of Health Professions, so you could say that I am kinda partial to the Baptist System. But since I haven't worked as a Nurse yet I have no idea about pay ranges. I have been told that new RN (just graduated) are looking at around between $21 to $29 per hour.

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Thanks dg!

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I'll be starting my new RN job at Baptist Medical Center in March.

and pay is $21.00 plus shift differential.

Kinda low, but I'm so happy to find the position.

FYI, I will be moving down to SA next week from Oregon.

You shouldn't have any problem find the job down in SA.

and I have heard Santa R. are the best among others.:)

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Thanks for the info, good luck with the move and your new job!

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Just wanted to say "welcome to San Antonio"! I'm sure no one moving here will have a problem finding a suitable position or a cool place to live. This is such a fun place to live (I'm a west coast transplant), much more laid back than where I lived previously, which I love. I have no information on hospitals in San Antonio (I'm in public health) but just wanted to wish you the best!

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

I have been in San Antonio for a number of years. Here is my scoop on the hospitals... Of the major hospital systems - Baptist will pay you the most but they also have the most nurses that are unhappy with them and leave quicker, hince the higher pay rate. Santa Rosa pays the least but has very good employee approval from people I know that work there. Methodist pays in the middle of the line and people like working for the system. They all pay based on years of experience and do not negotiate too much with you on pay.

Smaller hospitals are around also. I work at one of them that was mentioned above. They pay a little more because people bad talk them and they dont have as much applicant power.... My hospital pays quite well compared to anyone in town, if you want to know PM me. I have been with them for 10 years, they have their pros and cons but I love the people that I work with so I could say I am happy with the place. I would say at the smaller facilities you will get $3-5/hr more than at the bigger systems.

The VA pays alot because everyone there hates it......

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Specializes in Step-down, MICU.

Thank you for the info Argo, I am going to keep looking. It seems as though I have a variety of choices. Thanks again!

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Specializes in Adult Emergency Case Management.

I am a newish nurse and I work at Methodist. I work in the ED. Its hectic, but I work with great people.The new management seems to want to make it a great place to work. I know some of my fellow recent graduates also work here in different depts. They all seem happy except one or two who work on the med/surg area. They start new grads out at $20 but if you have exp, the pay does go up.

And even though we are not the county hospital ( University), we see a LOT of heart attacks and strokes. We just dont see much trauma. I was told when I was hired that Methodist ED was the only No divert hospital in SA. Since I have been there we have not closed our doors to any ambulance or person, no matter how many are stacked up. Also, we dont have patients waiting in the ED for 24+ hrs.:D

Is it the perfect place to work? Nope. But I doubt there is an utopia out there.

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